Darien Library will be hosting the American Red Cross for a blood drive in August. Registration that day will be in the Community Room then donations will occur in the Red Cross' specially equipped bus in the parking lot. Visit the Red Cross' website to schedule an appointment or call 1-800-733-2767.

Blood donors and those who attempt to donate are eligible to have their overdue fines waived (does not apply to bills or replacement charges).

Facts about blood donation from the Red Cross

Every two seconds someone in the U.S. needs blood.

The blood used in an emergency is already on the shelves before the event occurs.

A single car accident victim can require as many as 100 pints of blood.

Celebrating its 12th highly successful season, Summer Theatre of New Canaan, under the direction of the mother-daughter team, Melody and Allegra Libonati, brings us a cutesy, sexy, production of “Legally Blonde” this year. The award-winning film and Broadway musical by Laurence O’Keefe and Nell Benjamin is about a young girl named “Elle” who cunningly manages to wangle her way into Harvard, despite her questionable, scholarly aptitude. We quickly learn that this tootsie’s motivation is not a college education. Her true quest is to cement her relationship with a former boyfriend who happens to be a Harvard law student.

It’s very apparent that this blonde, pink-clad, Barbie Doll in high heels, doesn’t fit in with the nerdy, conservatively dressed, Ivy League crowd. However, Elle finally does achieve a rewarding education in more ways than one, when her natural smarts, and strong determination, twists the finger of fate towards her direction.

Kara Dombrowski (Elle) is a little cutie as she sings and dances across the stage, and flirts with handsome boyfriends Preston Ellis (Warner) and Mathew Christian (Emmett). The young, firecracker cast, directed by Allegra Libonati, is dressed in sparkling costumes and short-shorts designed by Lauren Gaston. There are numerous song and dance numbers and with great choreography by Doug Shankman, it’s hard to pick a favorite. Stephen Hope as the law professor is a really cool character. We loved the cleverly worded “Blood in The Water” scene. Jodi Stevens convincingly plays the rejected, beauty parlor gal who freely gives boyfriend advice. Lively pop music is under the direction of David Hancock. The melodies and lyrics are fun to hear but difficult to remember. For many it was the trained dogs, Bruiser and Newman who also stole the show. “Legally Blonde” is energetic, lighthearted, easy to enjoy entertainment.

For those who are old enough to remember WWII, this play is an authentic representation of what life was like, particularly in Newcastle England, during the 1940’s. C.P. Taylor, a Scotsman who was born in1929, and lived his last 20 years in Newcastle, was probably too young to be drafted then, never-the-less, his “And a Nightingale Sang,” currently at Westport Country Playhouse, captures the spirit of the ordinary people of this northern, coal mining area and survived this devastating war.

For those who weren’t born yet, here in America, we had the same air raid drills, food rationing and other inconveniences due to WWII, but we suffered very little compared to England. Sitting in our comfortable living rooms, we heard of the indiscriminate German bombing raids on the radio, read the newspapers, and saw the destruction of cities via movie newsreels. However, our men were also risking their lives fighting Hitler and the Japanese. The factories were rolling out planes, ships, tanks and other war supplies day and night, and the home front’s unified spirit to win this war was as strong as it was in England. Nothing like this patriotism called “The War Effort” was ever witnessed by the generations of Americans that followed. After WWII, our half-hearted, foreign wars that were fought “…in our interest,” dragged on for years, and became dispirited efforts. For this reason alone, “And a Nightingale Sang” at Westport Country Playhouse is a vivid, human experience for today’s audiences.

In describing the plot, the ancient English idiom, “…it’s like carrying coal to Newcastle” comes to mind -- which means, if there is a plot it’s rather “pointless.” If the saying puzzles you, it came about because Newcastle was known to have enough coal of its own. Likewise, there is nothing unusual about the plot except the period it is set in. It’s like an “All in the Family” sit-com. There are some tender moments, some wise and funny observances, two romances, plus a dead dog that needs to be buried. No other significant events take place, and like the ongoing serial, “Love of Life,” nothing is earth shattering. The story continues on and on and the family remains more or less as before.

It is the entire cast, under the direction of David Kennedy, that is most remarkable. Brenda Meaney is the resigned, spinster daughter, Helen. Her skilled acting smoothly transitions from narrator to actress. She also plays the advisor to her younger, insecure sister, Joyce (Jenny Leona). John Skelley plays Joyce’s soldier husband, and together, the couple makes a great, dancing pair. Handsome soldier Norman (Matthew Greer) is attracted to Helen but he holds a secret. The very religious, Catholic mother, Deirdre Madigan, frowns on this out-of-wedlock relationship with good reason. The boisterous, piano-playing father, later turned Communist, is Sean Cullen. Music is his way of keeping up morale, and his rich voice singing WWII British and American popular songs adds a special touch. Richard Kline is the down to earth, WWI grandpa who nurtures animals and steals the show with his shocking, outlandish remarks. You can almost hear the playwright speaking cynically here.

The scenery is a puzzle.The brick wall background, looks as if the family is living in an abandoned factory. It’s difficult to know where the living spaces and the indoor and outdoor site lines are. We have one, single bed against the center of the brick wall and an adjoining kitchen area. Either we should accept that everyone takes turns sleeping in one bed, or, we have to assume there are other bedrooms in the unit for various family members – but no doors lead to them. All entrances and exits are from the wings. When the victory lights are hung on the clothesline, we are not sure if the line is indoors or in the yard. We are also wondering what the yellow structure behind and above the brick wall represents? The bombing sounds and flashing lights add tense realism to the scene and except for Helen’s uneven hemline; the women’s period clothing was fine.

While I had trouble hearing all the words and getting used to the dialect, Elizabeth Smith should be complimented for a very difficult task. I believe I detected a combination of Irish, Scottish, and maybe a bit of Welsh – typical dialects of the coal miners who settled in this area of England.

You should see “And a Nightingale Sang” for its good acting and historic value.

Artistic Director of Westport Country Playhouse (WCP), Mark Lamos, states in his program notes that “Lying is actually a big part of how we communicate, and it’s certainly a large part—if not the essential aspect—of all art.”To illustrate his point, the Playhouse is opening its 85th season, with a hilarious comedy by David Ives, called “The Liar.” The production is a composite of 16th and 17th century plays based upon this deceptive art of human expression. Classical elements, such as rhyming couplets, are rendered in the style of Shakespeare, Rostand, Racine, Moliere and in particular, Pierre Corneille’s “Le Menteur”and are cleverly incorporated against a background of French hip-hop music, up-dated period ball gowns, and minimal, picture-book scenery. In short, the play illustrates that the art of lying has not changed since humans developed speech and the writing of classical plays – particularly the ones that are still enjoyed today.

It is natural for normal children to learn to lie as soon as they begin to talk. It’s a technique used by many politicians and lawyers and as current events still show, you might get away with lying if you have mastered how to twist things around and cover-up your mistakes eloquently. Aaron Krohn’s quick-thinking “Dorante,” is one of those eternal, wily characters whose lies will keep you sitting forward in your seat.

“The Liar,” does not have any important lessons to teach. However, I can truthfully say that if you can keep up with the quick pace of Penny Metropulos’ direction and the very clever dialogue, you will be bound to laugh at the mix-up of characters and the convoluted circumstances, which eventually lead to suitable mates.

The entire cast is superb. Kate Mccluggage plays the adorable, sought after “Clarice” and Monique Barbee is her wise friend, “Lucrece.”If the girls’ names sound similar it is only the beginning. Adding to the confusion is the fact that Clarice has twin maids with opposite personalities, and Rebekah Brockman plays both characters, “Isabelle” and “Sabine,” with admirable finesse.The frequent mix-up in the maids’ individual appearances leads to even more confusion. Rusty Ross is Dorante’s valet “Clinton,” Brian Reddy is Dorante’s believably befuddled father, Geronte. Philippe Bogen is “Alcippe,” Dorante’s rival for Clarice. and Jay Russell plays “Philiste,” his advisor.

When Clinton begs his Master Dorante for “lessons in lying,” Aaron Krohn gives a funny speech that is reminiscent of Cyrano de Bergerac’s excuse for his long nose. There are many familiar puns to tune into and this is only one example of this enjoyable play.

Like kosher wine or hot dogs you don’t have to be Jewish to thoroughly enjoy this realistic slice of life at Long Wharf Theatre. Heated, family arguments are familiar to us all. Centering around an argument over who best deserves their late grandfather’s “Chai” (a symbolic piece of jewelry) Josh Harmon’s new play, “Bad Jews,” also confronts the clashing, philosophical views of the majority of American Jews, and for better or worse, illustrates their rapid assimilation into other cultures and the loss of identifyable traditions.

The words are cleverly sharp and biting, and Oliver Butler expertly directs this wonderful cast through a series of intellectual and humorous debates, which directly hit home to many audience members.

Keilly McQuail plays “Cousin Daphna,” a sarcastic, “know it all” whose nasal accent, and facial expressions are hard to beat. A calculating snob you love to hate, Daphna feels more entitled to her grandfather’s “Chai” because, as she loudly declares to her two cousins, “I’m more of a Jew than any of you.” After all, the Vassar senior chatters on, she’s been to Israel, wants to marry an Israeli soldier, carry on the tradition, etc. etc. Little does this kinky-head realize that like American Jews, the majority of Israel’s citizens are non-religious -- although they have a strong, cultural identity. This is an important, irony to recognize – which unfortunately was not well-brought out in this play about religious fanaticism verses the advancement of a more harmonious One World.

A couple of elderly folks who stayed for the discussion afterwards, criticized the character “Daphna,” for being too much of a stereo-type -- which to me meant that McQuail gave an excellent interpretation. Some viewers objected to the title. For them, “Bad Jews,” implied a Jewish comedy, but this was instead a serious play based on serious subject matter. This is absolutely true!

Whatever your thoughts on this frank, controversial subject, “Bad Jews” is a thoroughly engrossing play that will certainly stimulate after theatre discussion.

Do you want to get started on your family history? Or do you know exactly where you're getting stuck and need help. Skilled genealogist, Steve Anderson, can help! He can help you find elusive ancestors' military records, census data, birth certificates and more using Ancestry.com Library Edition, Heritage Quest, and FamilySearch.

To find him, just come to the Second Level and ask the Reference Librarian for Steve!

This lovely bird feeder is a gift to the Library from Joe and Patty Warren of Wild Birds Unlimited. We're so thankful for this generous gift. Barbara of Readers' Advisory says we'll need to wait a week or so before we'll see birds visiting it.

To see the bird feeder, either come in through the Post Road entrance to the Library and look to the right. Or go into the Holds area behind the Welcome Desk. The bird feeder is visible outside the window.

Sydney from Tokeneke School brought in recycled flowers that the Kids Care Club made as "a thank you" to Darien Library. She is pictured with Alan, our Chief Administrative Officer. You can find the flowers at the Welcome Desk and in the Children's Library.